With the new poker run option it seems that the organization looks at this race as a rallly in the get together sense not a rally that observes a true rally race using navagation skills of racers and doesnt seem to care to make it that way.

I for one am kind of disapointed in their non action to enact a rooadbook only class and still on the fence.

Next up, the Sturgis rally will have a "race"..

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Each rider can make of it what he or she wants.
I feel the road book is what makes it FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
it is not a true rally Race. Some racers can follow the line on thier GPS and miss out on a great event!!!
You should know that !!!This event is FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey guys,
Just wanted to offer up my xr400 for the race as a rent-a-ride if anyone is interested. PM me if you're interested. It has the big tank on it already and we just rode it down there for 3-4 days.

With the new poker run option it seems that the organization looks at this race as a rallly in the get together sense not a rally that observes a true rally race using navagation skills of racers and doesnt seem to care to make it that way.

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A "roadbook class" may not be in the works for this year, but I got word there may be a SLIGHT positive change in the use of the roadbook this year. I'll know more soon.

As much as many of you wish NORRA would become a true Rally race, it just ain't going to happen. Adding the modern scooters was an after thought to get the entries up to make the event profitable. The event has always been about vintage vehicles.

There are 35 bikes entered and 3 of them are vintage. The cars are 52 vintage and 34 modern. So that makes the event 66 modern and 55 vintage. Maybe it has been all about vintage vehicles, but thats not the case any longer.

As much as many of you wish NORRA would become a true Rally race, it just ain't going to happen. Adding the modern scooters was an after thought to get the entries up to make the event profitable. The event has always been about vintage vehicles.

As much as many of you wish NORRA would become a true Rally race, it just ain't going to happen.

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Yep, vintage is at the heart of this event. And for those in a single-seater vintage car, you might want to buy your roadbook holder and rally odometer now, before the USA supplies are depleted! It's hell trying to hold the roadbook in one hand and steer with the other!

I for one am kind of disapointed in their non action to enact a rooadbook only class

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Anyone that wants change in anything should work toward that goal. I would begin by drafting the rules of the routebook only class, and then including in the draft your proposed solutions to all the potential problems that may occur. Send that off to NORRA and then arrange to meet with the NORRA people to talk about it.

Alternatively, don't bring your GPS. Find some buddies who also don't bring their GPS. If no GPS is exactly what you want, do that, compare times, and have some beers at the finish.

Who is talking about philosophy? I'm talking about money. Mr Pearlman presumably like it or he wouldn't keep changing the rules to add more people on modern equipment.

The "data" shows that more people on modern equipment are giving him money than those on vintage equipment. If you don't think that gives them the ability to shape the future of the event, you're mistaken.

I love the vintage idea in fact I fully plan on getting myself a vintage sled this summer to start working on it to race in the full spirit of the idea. However they opened up the modern classes so why not open up the rules and classes to accept us looking for a navigation rally and our requests?

I am not dissing the rally or your employment there. I am voicing opinons that others have as well concerning the subjects of roadbook navagation, GPS's and cheating. Yes many of us believe there was alot of it last year.

Last year...
I didnt bring my gps didnt own one ..
My sponsor Tripy has that covered but If I do race NORRA this year it will be used only as a backup tripmaster or cap heading reference as it has no North American basemap.

I did finish... not as high as I would have liked

I as well as quite a few racers here are just looking to have a very easily enacted class of

ROADBOOK NAV ONLY

The rules are simple.. no GPS allowed on vehicles in that class, only perhaps a baja almanac and an IRC beeper sized tracker.

Why has the organization not started a suggestion thread here or on race dezert (not your new rule thread) that norra takes questions and anwsers or suggestions with Mike answering directly?

One burning question is why he decided to charge entry fees to 2 wheels as much as 4 when EVERY SINGLE other big race gives breaks to the guys and girls on bikes?

I stopped competing or trying to promote rallymoto out here in the west just for the lack of roadbooks and the stages being ribboned off. I still have the MT HOOD stages in my roll chart. If I want to race in the dirt fast I have many many options from 50 dollar entry at califonia city for a 200 mi race all the way to a Vegas to Reno for 500.00 entry (ironman)

Thank you for being the champion of all things rally but I am not the only that feels this way.

Whoa... I have a non-racing, non-motorcycle, non-rally day job like the rest of you FFs. Yeah, I don't have to pay for lodging during the race but none of us are picking up W2's from NORRA, I use a week of my vacation time to go down there, just like all the racers do. I'm there for the fun.

The rules are simple.. no GPS allowed on vehicles in that class, only perhaps a baja almanac and an IRC beeper sized tracker.

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So, you see, that's kind of my point. You think it's simple, but even the one sentence rule you've proposed has multiple 'maybe's and unresolved questions, no discussion of procedures, penalties, allowances, classes, groupings, scoring, safety issues, or anything else.

Rally has built-in complexities that stem from the very nature of what is being accomplished. There is no way to take a race across 1000 miles, with 100 teams, and hundreds of vehicles, and hundreds of people, precisely timed to the minute, across two time zones, spread out over nearly a week, with exotic and historic race equipment, through inhospitable terrain, owned by a variety of governmental bodies and private organizations, with a variety of levels of racing experience, with satellite only communication... and make it "simple".

Anyone that gives a long hard think about what it takes to make a rally happen will soon realize that the task actually has a lot in common with a military exercise, and if it wasn't a race, then it would be the kind of task that you would have the National Guard handle.

These are easy to answer: because they're busy trying to organize a race, and also, they have day jobs and families. If anyone has burning questions or wants to submit suggestions.... use a phone and call them. It's that simple. I'd be surprised if after doing so you weren't satisfied with the answer. :)

I am in for the FUN!!!
let's get back to the Rally!!!!! and have some fun!!!!!!
this can only get better.........................

I for one have went 100MPH over most of Baja for years.
Now it's time to slow it down and use a ROADBOOK and
challenge my self. If you have the passion for riding then join in the FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!
My Wish Race list for 2013
( Lets hope this 50+year old body can hold up !! )

Wow.
Just for the record, I'm riding my 09' 450X in the Mexican 1000. Not because I care to win or lose. But only because I figure it's a good time to do a rip down the peninsula on a route that will have some traffic coming up behind me to relay a message or help, in case I do something dumb. So there. Ha! It's not my first rodeo in Baja or 1000+ mile dirt bike ride.
Anyone else have this attitude towards the Mexican 1000?